ED, Ultimately, nothing really as they're both just words/ideas thrown out by the mind. I understand, however, that isn't exactly a satisfactory answer given that we're on a forum designed for communication, so I'll try to explain their meaning as I use them.
Just as 'kensho' and 'satori' can be used interchangeably or with a subtle difference, so is my use of enlightenment and Realisation. The subtle difference is nothing more than enlightenment being used to express the idea of enlightenment in general and Realisation the individual's moment of waking up. No big deal. You'll find I often use different words to express Ultimate Reality - Tao;Reality;Spirit;Comfort Zone etc.(my new one inspired by Mayka!) as the only True meaning of them comes from within and can't be conveyed accurately. I think this is why Zen masters distrust the use of words - not just because they're clumsy tools, but because they are, and can only ever be, just tools and not the thing itself. Mike ________________________________ From: ED <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Tue, 1 March, 2011 23:58:37 Subject: Re: [Zen] Change Mike, What is the distinction between emlightenment and Realisation? --ED --- In [email protected], mike brown <uerusuboyo@...> wrote: > ED, Maybe, maybe not. It still stands tho that meditation is not essential for enlightenment as it leads us away from Realisation. Therein lies the paradox - for most of us meditation was the way to Realisation. Mike I believe that there are relatively few cases of individuals who have claimed to have become spontaneously enlightened or were born enlightened. --ED --- In [email protected], mike brown <uerusuboyo@...> wrote: > > Steve, > > ... I empathise with the Dzogchen claim that meditation is not essential > for enlightenmentm but is useful for developing mindfullness, moral >development, > > concentration etc. Only after Realisation is meditation essential for > deepening > > the initial breakthrough. > > Mike
